A preliminary hearing date for the mother charged with killing her 9-year-old daughter has not been set as the defense team continues to receive evidence from the months-long, multi-state murder investigation. 

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, did not appear in Lompoc Superior Court for Wednesday’s hearing because of illness, her attorney said.

The Vandenberg Village woman has been charged with murder plus use of a firearm and lying in wait. Authorities believe the killing occurred in early October.

Investigators spent weeks trying to locate Melodee Buzzard, 9, contending her mother remained uncooperative. 

Detectives determined Buzzard traveled with her daughter in a rental car on a trip through multiple states in October before returning to Santa Barbara County.

The girl’s remains were found in December in a rural Utah location, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Buzzard has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Wednesday’s hearing occurred the day after what would have been Melodee’s 10th birthday. Instead her relatives gathered at the start of the week for memorials including spreading her ashes in the ocean at a San Luis Obispo County beach. 

During the hearing, Judge Stephen Dunkle granted the defense motion to admonish spectators to remain silent following outbursts that occurred at a previous hearing.

Defense attorney Erica Sutherland said the outbursts occurred at the end of the Jan. 21 hearing from a spectator in the front row behind the defense table. The person said “you’re disgusting” and “you (expletive) piece of (expletive).”

“At the last hearing she did hear the verbal attacks made at her. She was intimidated and every defendant has the right to be safe in this courtroom,” Sutherland said, adding a courtroom is  a place for “respectful litigation.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jordan Lockey did not oppose the motion, but noted the “incredibly sensitive and overwhelming” case.

“There’s a murdered child involved and the public is having an extremely human visceral reaction to it,” she said. “But I don’t disagree that this courtroom should be a place where we all conduct ourselves with the requisite decorum to preserve the integrity of these hearings for both sides.” 

Dunkle granted the defense motion. 

“While the court is aware this is an emotionally charged case, this sort of disruption is not acceptable and will not be tolerated,” Dunkle said. 

While court hearing are open to the public, spectators must comply with rules designed to protect the dignity of proceedings, Dunkle said. 

Any future outbursts would be deemed contempt of court with possible sanctions being a ban from future hearings, a fine or jail time, Dunkle added. 

The defense attorney said it took weeks to receive search and arrest warrants and they continue to receive other evidence. However, there’s still “a number of outstanding items” yet to be handed over.

She said she is hopeful she will have enough evidence next month so they can consider setting a date for the preliminary hearing. 

Noting the case involved a months-long, multi-state, multi-agency investigation and agreeing to return next month for another update, Lockey said that various investigators were not delaying delivery of information to the defense.

The case will return March 4 when the attorneys and the judge may set a date for the preliminary hearing.

Buzzard remains in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail where she is being held without bail.